Walls Have Ears is a Sonic Youth bootleg live recording from 1985. It was released on 2×12″ vinyl in 1986 without the consent of the band. The album was officially released on February 9, 2024, via Goofin’ Records. Culled from three 1985 gigs in the UK during a transitional and transcendent time in the band’s story, Sonic Youth’s ‘Walls Have Ears’ appeared as a 2LP set in 1986, not just a live album but an artful tapestry full of live experimentation with songs. Deleted as quickly as it appeared, it’s now issued for the first time officially under the band’s auspices. Tracks 1–7 were recorded live on October 30, 1985, in London. Track 8 was recorded live on November 8, 1985, at Brighton Beach in Brighton. Tracks 9–17 were recorded live April 28, 1985, in London. The April tracks were recorded with members Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon and Bob Bert. The remainder featured new drummer Steve Shelley replacing Bert.
Tracklist:
- C.B.
- Green Love
- Brother James
- Kill Yr. Idols
- I Love Her All the Time
- Expressway to Yr. Skull
- Spahn Ranch Dance
- Blood on Brighton Beach
- Burning Spear
- Death Valley ’69
- Speed JAMC
- Ghost Bitch
- The World Looks Red
- I’m Insane
- The Word (E.V.O.L.)
- Brother Jam-Z
- Killed & Kicked Off
- Expressway To Yr. Skull (Radio Edit)
Sonic Youth
Thurston Moore: guitar
Kim Gordon: bass guitar
Lee Ranaldo: guitar, vocals
Bob Bert: drums (Tracks 9–17)
Steve Shelley: drums
